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Blood lipids involved with the protective effect of an Alzheimer’s disease gene suggest new targets for prevention

Date: December 19, 2022
News Source: www.nia.nih.gov

New research finds that certain types of lipids in the blood play a role in how the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene influences Alzheimer’s disease risk. A recently published NIA-supported study in Alzheimer’s & Dementia^®: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association takes a closer look at the connection among blood lipids, two forms of APOE, and Alzheimer’s. This study suggests that specific blood lipids associated with APOE ε2 could potentially be new targets for Alzheimer’s prevention.

The APOE gene is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s. Two forms of the APOE gene are influential: The ε4 form increases risk, whereas the ε2 form provides resilience or protection against the disease. It is not yet fully clear how various forms of APOE modify the risk.

Researchers analyzed the association between more than 500 blood lipids and APOE ε2 and ε4 to learn which lipids influence APOE ε2 and ε4’s effects on Alzheimer’s risk and resilience. This study was conducted using biosamples and data from three independent cohort studies, including the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.

The findings showed that more than 200 lipids were associated with APOE ε2 and more than 100 were associated with APOE ε4. When lipids specifically associated with Alzheimer’s were analyzed, 68 were associated with APOE ε2 and 24 with APOE ε4.

Several lipid classes were identified as the most common types of lipids in cases of Alzheimer’s that involved APOE ε2 or APOE ε4, including ether lipids, alkyl diacylglycerol, and plasmalogen. The researchers discovered that 11 lipids influenced APOE ε2’s protective effect against Alzheimer’s and 14 influenced APOE ε4’s effect on elevating risk for the disease.

Importantly, three of the 11 lipids that influenced the protective effects of APOE ε2 were alkyl diacylglycerols. Alkyl diacylglycerols are a naturally occurring class of lipids that can be found in the livers of several species of sharks and in human breast milk. Supplementing a diet with alkyl diacylglycerol can increase these lipid levels in blood and immune cells.

Although more research is needed, the identification of specific lipids as mediators of APOE ε2’s protective effects may open new avenues for preventing Alzheimer’s, including interventions using dietary supplementation.